Small Engines Gala — Epping Ongar Railway

The Epping Ongar Railway, a heritage line in Essex that runs between Epping Forest, North Weald and Ongar, holds a Small Engines Gala that the operator introduced as a new event. It describes an exciting weekend where the railway's small engines, both steam and diesel, "come out to play" alongside some visiting locomotives, with up to eight diminutive industrial locomotives in action.

An intensive service operates, during which the engines have to work hard on the line's challenging gradients: an hourly service between North Weald and Ongar, with frequent shuttle services into Epping Forest. All trains run in conjunction with the railway's fleet of vintage London buses, which connect with Epping Underground station. The operator's billing mentions industrial saddle-tank and pannier-tank steam locomotives, a Great Eastern Railway "Coffee Pot" locomotive, a former London Underground Sentinel diesel and a Class 03 diesel shunter among the engines, and says a special guest locomotive would be announced.

An intensive service with an hourly train between North Weald and Ongar and frequent shuttles into Epping Forest, worked by small industrial steam and diesel locomotives and some visiting engines. Vintage London buses connect with the trains. The operator says catering outlets are open all day at North Weald and Ongar.

The railway's published address is Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar, Essex CM5 9BN. All fares include unlimited travel on the train and vintage London bus services on the date of the visit. Connecting vintage buses run from outside Epping Underground station (Central Line, zone 6) to the stations at North Weald and Ongar. There is no car parking at the stations apart from limited parking for disabled passengers, which must be booked in advance; the operator points to public car parks in Ongar, a short walk from the station (charges may apply, postcode CM5 9AB), or at Epping station (charges apply, postcode CM16 4HW), from where the vintage bus service can be joined. The LNER Cafe at North Weald serves hot snacks and drinks, with breakfast rolls until 11:30, and the Buffet Stop at Ongar serves hot and cold drinks and light refreshments.